Tuesday 15 May 2012

Captain Baby Man







For my grandson, Max Wolfe Creighton, when he was eight weeks old.
                                                  I
Captain Baby Man, you wave your little arms,
You smile and laugh, you make sweet sounds.
The circle of your world is beginning to grow
Out beyond mother’s breast and the warmth of touch.
Changes are coming. A wider world is registering
In your brain. This whole wonderful miracle
Is now yours to have and ours to share:
The growth that time, love and hardship brings;
Your mind for others to nurture and for you to grow;
The entire, beautiful, rich complexity of life;
 Bird song, love, forest light, tears, water’s sparkle, joy and grief-
O grasp it, hold it tight, drink it deep,
Not recklessly, but richly, deeply, wonderfully,
Dear, sweet, little Captain Baby Man.


                                   II.

Captain Baby Man, rise on imagination’s wings
High above dull, mundane, fettered things;
Roll, glide and play in realms of pure joy,
Touch hearts, bring happiness, be a wonderful boy;
Let dullness and stupidity be things you abhor
As, Captain Baby Man, you rise, glide and soar.

No comments:

Post a Comment